8 of the Best Places to Visit in Kenya

Imagine a landscape that delivers spectacular sceneries at every stop, with unspoiled wilderness, playful vistas and vibrant culture. Over a century ago, the place was visited by travellers around the world, lured by stories of big games. The multitudes of wildlife living in the plains and savannahs aroused their curiosity. Hujambo (hello), welcome to Kenya, the sixth most beautiful place on Earth. Kenya, the Land of the Big Five, Kenya, is one of the gorgeous tourist places in Africa that will take your breath away with its sheer beauty, weather and laid-back lifestyle. The tourist places in Kenya include everything a vacation destination comprises, from grassy plains to grand peaks. The place is truly blessed with these riches and so much more, which you can experience only when you plan to book yours among various Kenya tour packages.

With Kenya’s endless faunal diversity, vibrant civilisations and an amalgamation of old-world charm and ultramodern towns, the places to go in Kenya are more overwhelming than it sounds because there are so many places to visit. This is one of the main reasons why most globetrotters frequent Kenya on their maiden trip to Africa. From Maasai Mara and Lamu to Mount Kenya, due to the places to visit in Kenya, the place has emerged as one of the best-kept secrets in the African continent, synonymous with refined elegance and rustic ambience.

Top Places to Visit in Kenya

To help you with the list of places to visit in Kenya, Africa, here are the top eight destinations that you cannot miss.

• Maasai Mara
• Mount Kenya
• Lake Nakuru
• Samburu
• Diani Beach
• Nairobi
• Amboseli
• Mombasa

Maasai Mara

The list of places to visit in Kenya is incomplete without mentioning Maasai Mara synonymous with cultural experiences and wildlife safaris. Known as The Greatest Show on Earth, it is home to plenty of wildlife, which includes the big five and the elusive leopard. The National Reserve is also home to the highest densities of lions in the world and hosts over 95 species of resident game. Since Maasai Mara is not a National Park, tourists do not have to adhere stick-to-road rule. This means you can see the animals closely, which you cannot experience in any other National Reserve. You can visit Maasai Mara between July and October when animals such as Zebras and wildebeest migrate to the region.

Mount Kenya

While there is no doubt about the allure of Maasai Mara, Mount Kenya is another spectacular place to go in Kenya that one cannot miss on their trip to Kenya. Mount Kenya is the second-highest peak in Kenya and is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mount Kenya National Park was initially built to conserve endangered wildlife in the surrounding area, which is now a full-fledged Kenyan tourist place, offering exhilarating wildlife safari experiences to tourists. Apart from this, Mount Kenya is also an attractive destination for camping, cave exploring and hiking. For the inhabitants of Mount Kenya, the Kikuyu people, Mount Kenya remains a sacred heart of their folklore.

Lake Nakuru

A 3-hour drive from Nairobi city, Lake Nakuru is a tourist place to visit in Kenya that is located in the Lake Nakuru National Park in the Rift Valley of Kenya. If you happen to visit Lake Nakuru at the right time of the year, you will see flocks of fuschia flamingos lining the alkaline shores of Nakuru Lake. Apart from flamingos, more than 400 species of other birds are recorded to be nesting here. Lake Nakuru is also a wildlife sanctuary for white rhinos, giraffes, leopards, zebras, etc., among which black rhinos are abundant at Lake Nakuru. To capture the beauty of Lake Nakuru, spring and summer are the two most ideal times to plan a trip.

Samburu National Park

On your trip to Kenya, if you are venturing to central or Northern Kenya, Samburu National Park is one of the top places you can visit. Unlike other tourist places in Kenya, Samburu is a little off the beaten path, offering stunning vistas of desert scrubs and mountains. The Samburu National Park is considered one of the best vacation spots in Kenya due to its magnificent wildlife and topography. Some of the animals which you can find in abundance at Samburu National Park are Grevy’s Zebras, Somalian Ostriches, reticulated giraffes, oryx and gerenuks. Around the tourist spot, you will find Samburu people famed for their many strands of beaded colourful jewellery and painted faces with striking patterns.

Diani Beach

Easily among Kenya's most scenic tourist places, Diani Beach is situated approximately 30 km South of Mombasa, which most travellers frequent after tiring jungle safaris. The verdant Indian Ocean laps the white sands of Diani Beach, backed by a magical forest, where you can choose to take nature walks. You can even sunbathe under the palm trees on a hammock while enjoying listening to the music of the shores and reading a book. If you are an adventure enthusiast, the beach has plenty of water sports activities for you, such as snorkelling, swimming with white sharks, cruising and other interesting activities. For land-based you can head to the golf course and do skydiving if you prefer doing aerial activities.

Nairobi

With most itineraries beginning or ending in Nairobi, a stopover in the capital city of Kenya is almost inevitable. Nairobi is Africa’s largest city and a common place of interest to visit in Kenya for most travellers. The city includes plenty of touristy things to do, such as visiting museums, markets, cultural centres, wildlife parks and fantastic dining spots. One cannot go wrong with visiting Nairobi if one wishes to learn more about the history of Kenya, its journey to independence and its modern lifestyle. Most travellers frequenting Nairobi arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where they book a taxi to take them to the Nairobi city centre. The city centre is also accessible via trains from Mombasa and buses from other major city junctures.

Amboseli National Park

A short distance from Nairobi, Amboseli is another jewel site to visit in Kenya, which offers an unobstructed view of Mount Kilimanjaro, towering over thousands of wild animals scattered around the savannahs. Situated across the border of Tanzania, one can witness herds of African elephants, zebras, cheetahs, giraffes, and innumerable species of birds in the Amboseli National Park. What is even more special about the National Park is that it is a non-poaching area, which means that you can spot African elephants with massive tusks, which these elephants are known for. The area around the Amboseli National Park is inhabited by the Maasai tribe, which offers an opportunity for you to learn more about their authentic culture and lifestyle.

Mombasa

Mentioning places to go in Kenya, one cannot miss the beautiful city of Mombasa. A layover at Mombasa in Kenya is worth it if you are interested in knowing the history of coastal Africa and how colonial Europe, India and the Middle East influenced the city. With all the attention on Kenya’s expansive wildlife safari, it is easy to forget that Kenya also has a beautiful coastline in Mombasa. In Mombasa, you can opt to watch dolphins and undertake fishing activities. The city is the second largest city in Kenya and is famous for its history and endless tourist attractions. For historical and cultural experience, one can wander along the alleyways of old Mombasa and visit Fort Jesus, the Cultural Centre and the Bombolulu Workshop. One can plan to visit Mombasa in the winter or rainy seasons as Kenya experiences a mostly tropical climate, making it hot and humid.

Bonus

Lamu

The bonus sites to visit in Kenya had to be a special one. Travel back in time as you visit the oldest inhabited settlements in Kenya, which are still frequented by hundreds of tourists every year. The age-old buildings around the area are a blend of British, Arabic and Indian architectural styles, which narrate the story of the Kenyan past. Strolling around the lanes of Lamu, you would notice people relying on Dhows and donkeys for commuting from one place to another. Some of the major tourist attractions in Lamu are the Lamu Fort, Manda Island and the Lama Museum. For adventure enthusiasts, windsurfing, kitesurfing, water skiing and sailing are some of the best things to indulge in.

If you have been looking for places to visit in Kenya, we hope the above list helped you to an extent. The list does not just end here but can only be experienced once you plan to book a package suitable to your choice and budget. Whether it is a Kenya jungle safari or a cultural tour, the various packages listed on Veena World have covered you. In case you need flexibility in choosing your own itinerary, Veena World’s Customised Holidays will give you the tailor a package that is according to your preferred dates, Kenyan places to visit, accommodation options and any other inclusion you need on your vacation to Kenya.